Section 2.8.1

Specifications

Specifications are design outlines. They describe the structure,parts, performance, packaging, and delivery of an object or process in enough detail to enable asecond party to construct the object or process. Specifications are widely used by contractingorganizations as procurement documents. In this role, they legally bind the subcontractor to produce and deliver the object orprocess within the described guidelines. In general, it is better to design with and buy provenoff-the-shelf technology, which is easy to order and test, than to go into the specification andcustom-building situation.

Specifications often include details of designs, dimensions, materials, performance, schedules,methods, and tests. The level of detail in a specification will varyaccording to how much freedom the specifier wants the maker to have in making designdecisions. The writer of a specification must carefully study the requirements of a situation todetermine what the key performance requirements for the specified technology should be. Specifications must be very detailed in calling out the exact way in which key items should beconstructed and tested. However, the more specific the specifier is, the fewer options the builderhas and the more expensive the item to be produced. Hence, detail and performance mustcarefully be weighed against cost.

A specification could be a plan for

Specifications generally contain requirements for many of the following items:

The spec sheet is a very brief specification that identifies key standards followed in the design ofa tool or process. Spec sheets accompany many electrical items and are useful for repairing andreplacing parts of the item.

## Specifications ##


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